The silver linings

[easyk83]

For the most part, Guion is a JAG/journeyman.

Nonsense, he's very good against average and scrubby linemen, it's just that he always gets put on skates by good guards and centers... so basically he turns into a JAG some of the time and usually when we need him the most.

 

[easyk83]

I just don't see how you can believe that. The cupboard looks nearly bare for pass rushers next year, and was merely above average this year, and that was arguably the worst secondary in the league after just one injury. I think people are looking at Cobb's 1,200 yard season and not the player he's been the past two seasons, and the highs of Cook and Adams instead of when they are being incredibly inconsistent or invisible, as well as the running game, which is a mess.

Now look at New England-#1 defense, a 1,000 yard rusher and one of the most effective passing games in the league, the best TE when healthy, and the ability to not miss a beat when an injury presents itself -They completely blow GB's roster out of the water IMO. The QB position is really all that separates GB from being in Chicago's shoes.

It's hard to grade pass rushers when your coverage is that bad.

The positives are that there are young players that do look to be getting better or have shown some intriguing ability. Clarke and Lowry both finished strong, for Lowry there was the early issue of adjusting to play at the 3 and 4 tech as well as the pro game. Once he adapted he started to look the part and he looks like he'll become a prototype 34 DE. Clarke needs to add atleast 10 pounds of good weight to his frame, he played a brilliant game against Dallas top flight OL.

Why do I like these two? 1) They are plus athletes at the positions they play and 2) they have gung ho attitudes much like Mike Daniels. No inconsistent motors or lapses in concentration here, no more of BJ or Letroy taking plays off, this trio will treat every snap like it's a war.

Outside of that I thought that Martinez looks like he could become a player with more experience albeit not a difference maker and Jake Ryan well he's not there yet but lest we forget he only played a year of ILB at Michigan. He's steadily improved since he's been here and he played perhaps his best game as a Packer against New York in the playoffs. Probably could add a little bulk and needs to work on the ILB craft, particularly when it comes setting up those inside blitzes. Gotta know how to trick linemen into thinking you're coming when your not and come when they think you aren't.

Outside Fackrell showed some explosiveness and promise, but he's another cat who needs a year in the weight room.

Randall was the player of the game against Jacksonville, and then a mix of injuries and poor focus messed up the rest of the season. I'm confident that he'll rebound much like Davante Adams did. Rollins is a slot guy but he could be a very good slot guy, let's see what happens with him. At corner it's a good year to have a problem because this is a good draft, and there should be a couple mid range free agents who could help stabilize the position.

 

[easyk83]

You always wanna get better but sometimes you gotta prioritize. The D-line IMO was one of the bright spots overall but if there was one thing they didnt do it was push up the middle in pass game. The hope would be that Kenny Clark can make a jump in year two. I have Packers addding Carlos Hawkins in my mock which he is another guy that can take up bodies and would provide a fresh body in the rotation to help create more push up the middle in pass def.

As far as our OLB's are concerned I believe we need a minny overhaul. Peppers showed signs of age and he should be gone. Thankfully Datone Jones should be gone. Matthews has been on the decline as well. Perry was great but even got slowed down by the club he was wearing. There gonna need Fackcrell to get bigger this offseason and work out Clays contract. Jayrone Elliot Is serviceable. I think if they can add a Haason Red**** as an edge guy it would go along way to spark pass rush amongst other things.

I would bring Jones back on a prove it deal, much like with Perry. He has problems with mental gaffes and he's not a finisher, but the man does play heavy out on the edge and I think he could get better at shedding blocks and making plays out on the edge, this was just year 1 as a pure OLB.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

For sure...but some of that no doubt is going to Cook and Perry for sure too. I expect a signing of a CB....just curious if he'll try and find a Jared Cook style signing or try a big one.

GB has over 35 mil cap space before a pending release of Sheilds. If Sheilds retires, I believe we get the whole cap, including dead cap back. He wont get the injury settlement unless he choses to retire, so he might go that route. I remember Finley was faced with this decision. Considering the risk, the future contract offers don't compare to the fairly large injury settlement that reflects what the player was, not will be after the injury.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

You always wanna get better but sometimes you gotta prioritize. The D-line IMO was one of the bright spots overall but if there was one thing they didnt do it was push up the middle in pass game. The hope would be that Kenny Clark can make a jump in year two. I have Packers addding Carlos Hawkins in my mock which he is another guy that can take up bodies and would provide a fresh body in the rotation to help create more push up the middle in pass def.

As far as our OLB's are concerned I believe we need a minny overhaul. Peppers showed signs of age and he should be gone. Thankfully Datone Jones should be gone. Matthews has been on the decline as well. Perry was great but even got slowed down by the club he was wearing. There gonna need Fackcrell to get bigger this offseason and work out Clays contract. Jayrone Elliot Is serviceable. I think if they can add a Haason Red**** as an edge guy it would go along way to spark pass rush amongst other things.

I agree that Daniels and Guion are solid starters. But if one of them were to go down for the year early on? We would have had a rude awakening... I think a rotation is crucial to keep those big guys fresh and effective all season... Not just for insurance...
ALSO! I would love to see us be able to put at least a 3 man front on the field without one being a over achieving undrafted guy or an under achieving mid rounder. Clark should become more of a contributor. But right now, the undrafted guy who was caught smoking dope twice last year was out playing him. Speaking of Pennel, he is gone. Ringo didn't impress me this year either... Beyond that we have 285 pound datone jones, or 280 pound rookie lowry as speed rushing 3-4 DEs......... IM NOT IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting another couple Guions is a must IMO.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I would rather them bring in a ecperienced day 1 shut down guy and then draft someone to develop in 3rd round or so.

I believe that even by adding a veteran cornerback in free agency the Packers should spend an early round pick on the position as well.

I feel like we need to get a more dominant Dline to help the OLBs get open... Theres no question we had some great OLB talent in 2016... So why didn't we get pressure with them down the stretch?

The Packers didn't have great talent at outside linebacker with both Matthews and Peppers regressing.

It's hard to grade pass rushers when your coverage is that bad.

Absolutely agreed. A lot of posters have ignored that so far.

GB has over 35 mil cap space before a pending release of Sheilds. If Sheilds retires, I believe we get the whole cap, including dead cap back.

No, the Packers won't get the prorated portion of Shields' signing bonus back as he was injured while playing football.

Clark should become more of a contributor. But right now, the undrafted guy who was caught smoking dope twice last year was out playing him.

Clark significantly improved over the second half of his rookie season. There's some hope he will turn into an impact player next season.

 

[easyk83]

I believe that even by adding a veteran cornerback in free agency the Packers should spend an early round pick on the position as well.

The Packers didn't have great talent at outside linebacker with both Matthews and Peppers regressing.

Perhaps not but for now corner is the more pressing position, OLB pass rush deficiencies can be partially mitigated by blitzes and schemed pressure. It's much tougher to make up for awful cornerback play. Matthews might yet prove effective again even though Im not counting on it, he needs to stay healthy. Now the positive news is that for the most part his injuries have been strains and muscle pulls which suggests that they might prove manageable, the downside is that he hasn't figured this out despite 8 years in the league

Clark significantly improved over the second half of his rookie season. There's some hope he will turn into an impact player next season.

Well maybe not a true impact player in terms of eye popping play but I could see him turning into a real fulcrum, workhorse type player much like Pickett used to be for us.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I'd love to see Clark break out next year. But Im just not comfortable banking on it. Right now I think he is more of a rotational guy. And just like minute 1 since he was drafted, I thought he should be a DE.

Id like to see Wilfork added as a part time run stuff specialist. Let Guion come in fresh. Daniels and Clark combo solidifies the DE spot in the Nickel. But I still feel like a 2nd starting stud DE is needed, So we can actually play a 3-4 without having to hope for no big injuries, and being forced to play a back up as a starter.

 

[PikeBadger]

I agree that Guion is pretty much a JAG and likely only has 1 more season left in Green Bay. I expect that we'll draft another DL guy this year and fully expect Clark to continue improvement. Pickett in most of his GB years was very good in the first half of the season but he couldn't sustain that level because he didn't take care of himself in the off season (imo). I'm hoping that Daniels teaches Clark and Lowry by example how a real professional hones his craft.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Perhaps not but for now corner is the more pressing position, OLB pass rush deficiencies can be partially mitigated by blitzes and schemed pressure. It's much tougher to make up for awful cornerback play.

While I agree that the Packers are in more need of adding talent at cornerback the team has to address outside linebackers as well with only Matthews and Fackrell currently under contract for next season.

 

[Packer Brother]

There is no silver linings. We are the modern day Atlanta Braves franchise. We have a HOF QB. Yet we've seen that doesn't automatically get you a SB.

 

[tynimiller]

I agree that Guion is pretty much a JAG and likely only has 1 more season left in Green Bay. I expect that we'll draft another DL guy this year and fully expect Clark to continue improvement. Pickett in most of his GB years was very good in the first half of the season but he couldn't sustain that level because he didn't take care of himself in the off season (imo). I'm hoping that Daniels teaches Clark and Lowry by example how a real professional hones his craft.

Oh my word in many ways I wish Daniel was the line coach!!! His ethic of getting better is insane and I credit alot of that to his wrestling background.

 

[kevans74]

Silver linings on my take:

We have the best LT/RT combo in Green Bay since Clifton and Tauscher...so that's good, been a long time coming lol.

Very good Center and depth there(provided Tretter comes back), better than Wells ever was
Lang is very good

Very good safety combo! I absolutely love Ha Ha, and always presumed he would be very good here and the best we've had since Collins! Burnett remains solid!

Perry FINALLY showed his potential, although I think this is where/what he is an 8-10 sack type of guy who's good against the run. He won't be a super high sack guy I don't think like Von Miller or Aldon Smith (in his prime) but he'll be very solid which is what we need.

If Clark can progress and if Guion/Raji come back... we will have one of our better DLs in awhile

Davante reminds me more of Sterling Sharpe... same height, skill set and ball skills than James Jones(he's not like Javon Walker as he's not as tall or as straight line fast as Walker). This is good as I'd rather have a Sterling Sharpe clone than a James Jones clone(no offense to James)!

Geronimo Allison is a taller version of Jarrett Boykin... probably better too!

Montgomery might finally be the dual threat runner and pass catching RB we've lacked for awhile since Ahman.. but he's not as good of a runner as Ahman

Aaron is probably one of, if not the, GOAT in terms of pure physical talent at the quarterback position

The BAD:

Our ILBs are still just "average" but with promise depending on Blake... but that's a big "if"

Our cornerbacks are in a bad spot if we can't find a true "number one" type.. .they are mostly 2nd, 3rd and/or slot type guys

Our WR core, while good and deep, isn't as good as it seems depending on how long Jordy can keep it up

 

[Pkrjones]

Clark significantly improved over the second half of his rookie season. There's some hope he will turn into an impact player next season.

Clark is still "a baby" and will do nothing but improve and mature. He won't turn 22 until half way thru the '17 season, making him younger than 95% of those who'll be drafted in April. Agree that a mid-round 315+lb'er who can rush from inside would be a great draft addition to the rotation.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Clark is still "a baby" and will do nothing but improve and mature. He won't turn 22 until half way thru the '17 season, making him younger than 95% of those who'll be drafted in April.

There's no guarantee Clark will take a significant jump in performance from his rookie to the second season though. While I'm optimistic about it Randall and Rollins should work as cautionary tales.

 

[Half Empty]

Clark is still "a baby" and will do nothing but improve and mature. He won't turn 22 until half way thru the '17 season, making him younger than 95% of those who'll be drafted in April. Agree that a mid-round 315+lb'er who can rush from inside would be a great draft addition to the rotation.

If all the rookies did that their second year and beyond, we probably wouldn't be complaining about one-SB-per-GOAT.